Locking latch



ay 1947- A. VANDER HENST 2,420,113

LOCKING LATCH Filed March 14, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1' Inuenfdr AbruhumVamXerHemf Affornegg y 1947- A. VANDER HENST 0, 3

LOCKING LATCH Filed March 14, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 39 m 3 nue'nfor Fi 6 AhmhamVanderHensf Afiornegg Patented May 6, 1947 LOCKING LATCH Abraham Vander Henst, Grand Rapids, assignor to National Brass Company,

Mich, Grand Rapids, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Application March 14, 1945, Serial No. 582,603

8 Claims.

This invention relates to latches which may be manually locked at the inner side of a door, against operation from its outer side, the latch being operable at all times at the inner side of the door. Said latches are in general characterized as bathroom latches.

In the present invention a novel and useful, and very practical and readily manufactured economical locking latch of the type indicated has been developed and one which is readily installed at a minimum of work and expense.

An understanding of the invention may be had from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which,

Fig. l is a horizontal section through the latch structure as it is installed on a door, which is shown fragmentarily in horizontal section, the parts of the latch occupying normal positions in which the latch bolt may be retracted from either side of the door.

Fig. 2 is a similar section through the latch structure with the latch bolt locked against retraction from the outer side of the door.

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section through the latch mechanism, and

Figs. 4, and 6 are transverse vertical sections substantially on the planes of lines 4-4, 5-5 and 6-45, respectively, of Fig. 3, looking in the directions indicated by the arrows.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different figures of the drawings.

The door I is a conventional door mounted on hinges adjacent one vertical edge for swinging movements. For installation of the latch, at its free vertical edge the door is bored into the body to provide a cylindrical latch receiving opening or recess 2. Transverse openings 3 are made through the door, communicating with the opening 2 toward its inner end, and other smaller transverse openings 4 are made a short distance outward from the openings 3, the former openings being for the passage of the operating spindle bars and. the latter for the passage and operation of the locking push bar.

The latch structure includes a housing made of two identical parts, each including at its forward or outer intermediate portion a semi-cylindrical section 5 and at its rear or inner end portion a channel shaped section 5. Said sections 6 are pressed inwardly at their ends and between their sides to provide a short flat section 1 at each ide of which the metal is extended outwardly as at 8. When the two parts of the latch housing are placed together the fiat portions 1 lie against each other and are secured together by means of a screw 9. Each of the inner channel sections 6 immediately adjacent the parts 8 is formed with a cylindrical bearing sleeve l0 and the semi-cylindrical and channel sections 5 and 6 are connected by a transverse integral shoulder portions l! as shown. The semicylindrical sections 5 of the housing at their forward end portions are reduced in diameter, making smaller and shorter semi-cylindrical outer end sections l2 with a continuous shoulder 13 between the parts 5 and I2 at their juncture.

The housing parts are connected together at their outer ends by a cup member, having a cylindrical wall l4 and a bottom 15, which telescopes over the smaller diameter portions I: of the housing and is releasably connected thereto in an old and well known manner. A face plate 53 is secured to the bottom l5 and in the installation on the door is received in a mortised recess at the free edge of the door, being screw connected to the door in the conventional way. The plate l6 and the bottom l5 of the cup member described have alined openings therethrough, and from said plate and bottom of the cup member, latching bolt head guides I1 and I8 extend inwardly parallel to the length of the housing.

The latch bolt includes a head l9 with the usual beveled side, extending through said open ings and located between the guides l1 and I8. A cylindrical sleeve 20 is connected to the head and extends into the housing and through the bottom of a cup 2! of sheet metal which, at its open end, is provided with an outwardly extending flange 22, the cup member being located in the larger cylindrical parts of the housing and limited in outward movement by the fiange22 engaging against the shoulders l3. The inner end of the sleeve 20 is formed with two laterally extending ears 23, whereby the bolt head and sleeve 29 may be moved inwardly, said sleeve passing through the opening in the bottom of the cup 2!, but are limited in outward movement by the ears 23 coming against the bottom of said cup.

A fiat plate 24 of circular outline is located within the housing, being pressed at its inner side against shoulders H. A heavy coiled spring 25 bears at its inner end against said plate and at its outer end against the flange 22. Within the sleeve 28 a lighter coiled spring 26 is housed at its front and bearing against the head l9 and telescoping at its rear end portion partly over a cylindrical member 21, reduced in diameter at its outer end portion with the spring at its inner end engaging the shoulder between the larger and smaller parts of the member.

At its inner end the member 21 is horizontally slotted midway between its sides for a distance. A pivot pin 28 extends across said slot and is carried at its ends by the adjacent side portions of the member, on which a locking lever or bar is pivotally mounted at one end. Said bar a short distance inward from the pivot pin 2'8 is increased in width to one side with a shoulder as shown (Fig. 1), and when the bar 29 is in direct alinement with the axis of the sleeve 20, the adjacent outer edge of the widened portion of the bar is in substantial alinement with the adjacent inner side of the sleeve 20. Thus when the sleeve 20 and head [9 are independently moved inwardly, springs 26 is compressed and the sleeve telescopes over block 2'! and the pivoted locking bar 29. Intermediate the ends of the locking bar it is reduced in width and passes through and extends inwardly beyond the plate 24. At the outer side ofthe plate 24, the bar 29 is provided with a transverse pin or rod 3| or the shape shown which is. adapted to be positioned at one side o the other of a narrow rib 32 pressed in the plate 24 in an outward direction, the rod being of a pointed character and the spring 26 thrusts the rod against the plate. At its free inner end, bar 29 is 'further're'duced in width to make a locking dog or lug 33 as hereinafter described.

Thelatch bolt assembly is completed by two spaced apart retractor bars 34 permanently secured at their front portions to diametrically opposed sides of the cup member Zl, and extending'inwardly in the housing, adjacent opposite Sid thereof. t a p yacross the transverse openings, made in the housing by the formation of the sleeves iii. A short distance outward from itsre'ar end each bar has a pin 35 passing therethrough, the end portions of each pin extending 'afdistancebeyond each side of each bar.

rotatably jointed operating spindles 36, eachhaving a knob 31 at its outer end are passed through the openings 3. and have their adjacent endsc'onnected together against separation but each is independently movable about its longitudinal axes. Such divided spindle connection is oldanddoesnot require detailed disclosure. Between each side of the door and each knob 31 a decorative escutcheon plate or rose 38 ispositi'onedand secured. Each of the spindles 36 passes through a squared opening to conform to the cross, section of the spindle, made in roll-back 39,'there being one of said roll-backs mounted for, rocking movement in each of the bearing sleeves 10. Each roll-back at its outer portion has an arcuate flange 49, the ends of which (Fig. 3 )j'come substantially to the projecting end portions of the pins 35. Thus on operation of either spindlejfi, by manual turning of its connected knob, thelatch boltassembly as a whole may be retracted against the spring 25 to withdrawthe 'bolthead l9 ,to release a door for opening after it'has been closed with the bolt head received andheld. in a keeper thereforon a door casing orlJ'am'bJn theusual and conventional manner.

At'le'ast' ne of said flanges 40, the one on the rollrback adjacent theouter side of the door, is cut away between its vends to provide a rectangular shaped notch or recess. which, in the normal position of the .parts, is located directly to one side of the.lug 33 and. is wide enough to receive it when, the lever bar 29 is turned outwardly 'aboutits pivot 28. When the lug 33 is thus 10- f such bar.

ance to movement provided (Fig. 2), the outer roll-back spindle and door knob are operation and the latch bolt by turning the outside door cated in the recess 4| 39 and its associated held or locked against cannot be withdrawn knob.

A locking bar or plate 42 passes transversely through the channel section 6 of the housing outwardly of the end lug 33 of the bar or lever 29, and has an opening through it for the passage of At the inner door side, a push bar 43 screw threaded at one end, is screw attached to the plate 42 as shown in Fig. 1, the projecting portion of the bar 43 passin through an opening in the escutcheon 38 at the inner side of the door. Said opening is of non-circular form and the push rod or bar which operates the locking plate 42 of a similar cross section to prevent any accidental unscrewing and detachment from the locking plate 42.

In the normal position of the parts, as in Fig. 1, the door may be opened by retracting the latch bolt through a manual turning of either knob 31. With the door closed the push bar 43 at the inner side of the door may be pushed against at its outer end to move the connected plate '42 longitudinally through the housing, with an accompanying movement of the lug 33 into the notch 4| of the outer roll-back. In such movement the bar or lever 29 will be swun about its piv'ot 2B, the pin at 31 passing over the pointed rib 32, with an accompanying light, compression of the spring 26 permitting such movement, and it is evident that in either position of the pin relative to the rib 32 (Figs. 1 and 2), there will be yielding resista by the spring 28; therefore, the bar 29'which carries the locking lug '33 is yieldingly held but with a sufiicient security against movement that accidental locking or unlocking will not occur. Because of the angular position of the bar 29 with reference to the length of the sleeve 21 upon retraction either of the entire latch bolt assembly or a pushing in and independent movement of the head I9 and the attached sleeve 20, the inner openend of the-sleeve, striking against the inclined shoulder 30 will automatically move the bar 29'from its lockingposition in Fig. 2 to neutral position as in Fig. 1. 'Iherefore, though the door may be locked inside, against opening from its outer side, an operation of the unlockeddoor knob 31 at its inner side to open the door will automatically restore the parts to neutralposition. Also should any operation of the locking Pushbar take place when-the door is open causing a locking of the outer roll-back as in Fig. 2, upon closing the door the head of the bolt, I9riding over the strike plate 'ofthe keeper will cause an automatic unlocking and return to neutralposition. For emergency purposesa keyor equivalent member may be inserted t rough the opening shownin the outer escutcheon 38 to press against ,the adjacent end 'of the push plate 42 and move it and the connected lookin lever 29 fromtheFig. 2'locking position to the Fig. 1 neutral position, freeing :thelatch'bolt for operation at the outer sideof the door.

The construction is novel and economical to produce and assemble. It is easily installed at minirnmn expense. The parts are sturdy andof adllrable character, certain and sure in operation without liability of gettingout of order. The appended claims define the. invention which is to be. considered comprehensive of .all 'forms "of structur ;.coming within. their scope. 19 5.121;

1. In a latch'construction, a latch'boltassembly including a bolt head and an elongated sleeve connected to the inner end of the bolt head and extending horizontally therefrom, a member at the open end portion of the sleeve and over which said sleeve may be telescopically moved, a spring between the member and the bolt head, a lever pivotally mounted at one end on said member and normally extending in alinement with the axis of said sleeve, a transverse member through which the open end portion of the sleeve freely passes, two retractor bars connected to said transverse member at opposite sides thereof extending therefrom in parallelismto the longitudinal axis of the sleeve, a plate through which said pivoted lever passes, a heavier spring between said transverse member and the plate, and a pin extending through the pivoted lever between its ends and at the side of the plate adjacent the open end of the sleeve, said plate having a projecting rib for the pin to ride over from one side thereof to the other in pivotal movements of the lever in one direction and return thereof to original position.

2. In a latch mechanism an elongated housing open at one end, a latch bolt including a head and a stem extending therefrom inwardly into said housing, said head normally projecting through the open end of the housing, spring means for moving said latch bolt and stem outwardly, a retractor mechanism connected with said stem and mounted for movement lengthwise of the housing to retract the latch bolt, said bolt head and stem being independently movable in an inward direction, manually operable means one at each side of the housing independently operable and connected with said retractor mechanism for retracting the bolt from either side of the housing, manually operable means for looking said bolt retractor means against operation from one side of the housing, and means acted upon by the spring means associated with said latch bolt for normally maintaining said looking means in either of two positions to which it may be moved, in one of which said means for operating the retractor mechanism at one side of the housing is locked against operation and in the other of which both independent operable means one at each side of the housing are free for operation.

3. A construction containing the elements in combination defined in claim 2, combined with a heavier spring means associated and acting upon the retractor mechanism to normally move it in an outward direction, and a stop to limit said outward movement said heavier spring means being overcome by a manual actuation of said retractor mechanism against the force of the heavier spring means.

4. In a latch construction, an elongated housing open at one end, a latch bolt including an outer bolt head and a hollow stem extending integrally therefrom, said bolt normally projecting through the open end of the housing, a member within the inner portion of said hollow stem and over which said stem may be moved, a locking lever pivotally mounted to said member and extending inwardly therefrom, an abutment means located transversely of the housing, means on the locking lever bearing against said abutment means, said abutment means having a detent to engage with said means on the lever for releasably retaining the lever in either of two positions to which it is movable, retractor means located lengthwise of the housing and operatively connected with said stem, the inward movement of the retractor means bodily moving said head and stem inwardly with a compression of the spring means within said stem, manual means accessible from one side of the housing and extending therethrough connected with said locking lever to move it in one direction by pushing on said manual means, independent operating means mounted on and located one to each side of the housing, each having means operatively connected with said retractor means for moving said retractor means inwardly, one of said manually operated means at the side of the housing opposite said leveractuating means having a part engageable by said locking lever in one position of the lever, preventing the opertion of said man ually operated means for moving the retractor means when the lever is in such position.

5. A construction as defined in claim 4, said transverse abutment means comprising, a plate within and extending transversely of the latch housing, a heavy coiled spring hearing at one end against said plate and at the other end engaging with said retractor means to normally move it outwardly, stop means on the housing for limiting the outward movement of the retractor means, said locking lever passing through the plate, and cooperating detent means on said plate and locking lever for holding the lever in either of the two positions to which it may be moved, said spring within the stem of the latch bolt being compressed upon the change from one position to the other of the locking lever.

6. In a latch, an elongated housing open at its outer end, a latch bolt having a head projecting through said open end of the housing and a hollow stem extending inwardly, a spring within the stem, a member located within and at the inner end of the stem and over which the stem may be telescopically moved, a locking lever pivotally mounted at one end on said member and extending inwardly into the housing, means located transversely across the housing through which said locking lever passes, and means on the locking lever pressed against said first means by said spring, said locking lever being widened "between its ends adjacent the inner end of the sleeve with the edge of the widened portion substantially in alinement with the inner side of the sleeve when said lever is axially alined with the sleeve, said widened portion of the lever at its outer portion having a shoulder which on swingin-g movement of the lever in one direction is positioned in the path of movement of the sleeve on inward movement of the latch bolt, whereby the lever is automatically swung into alinement with said sleeve upon any inward movement of the latch bolt.

7. In a latch construction, a latch lbolt assembly including, a bolt head and an elongated sleeve connected at the inner end of the bolt head extending horizontally therefrom, a member telescopically received within the inner end portion of said sleeve, a coiled spring in said sleeve between the head and member, and a lever pivotally connected to said member and extending normally in alinement with said sleeve but swingable about its pivot, said lever being widened between its ends with an edge of the widened portion substantially in alinement with the inner side of the sleeve when said lever is axially alined with the sleeve, said widened portion of the lever at its outer end having a shoulder which on swinging said lever to one side is positioned in the path of movement of the sleeve, whereby when the sleeve is moved against said spring over said member the lever is automatically turned to a position in alinement with said sleeve.

8. A latch comprising a casing, a latch bolt slidably mounted in said casing and having a bore in its inner end, manual means for retracting said latch bolt, a plunger slidably mounted in the bore of the latch bolt, 2, spring interposed between said plunger and the bottom of said bore, a bar pivotally connected to said plunger, means to hold said bar and plunger against inward movement, means to move the swinging end of said bar into. locking engagement with. a, part of said latch bolt retracting means and a cam surface on said bar engageable by said latch bolt acting,

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,876,576 Arste Sept. 13, 1932 1,489,675 Schlage Apr. 8, 1924 

